Thursday Poll: Do You Wear Your New Stuff Right Away, or Save it for Something Special?

I've always been a wear-my-new-shoes-straight-out-of-the-store kind of gal, and here's why.

No pair of shoes I've ever owned has ever looked this pristine for more than 30 seconds!

Last weekend, my husband and I had a dinner party for a few friends, which I thought was the perfect excuse to bust out the fancy schmancy new china we got as wedding gifts. "I can't believe you're using this on us!" one of the gals said when she sat down, which led to a conversation where I revealed my philosophy on new stuff, passed down to me by a dear (and insanely fashionable) friend: Never, ever save anything just for the sake of saving it.

My feeling is, as soon as you wear your ridiculously flattering new dress/drink that bottle of Bordeaux/put on those heirloom earrings your mother passed down to you, it'll automatically become a special occasion. So what if a dish gets a chip in it, or your sparkling red Louboutin soles now have a few scuffs? That's just the signifier that they're yours now, and a little bit of your life has rubbed off on 'em.

My grandmother, on the other hand, has piles of fabulous clothes with tags still on them squirreled away in her closet, and she's constantly telling me she feels bad about wearing something new--it's like the longer she holds onto them without a wear, the longer their special-ness stays preserved. I kinda understand her philosophy, too, but I'm way too much of an instant gratification kind of girl--and a do-er, wear-er, go-and-get-what-you-want-er--to ever adhere to it.

How about you, ladies? Do you wear your new stuff right away, like I do, and try to soak up as much enjoyment from it as you can, or do you save it for a special occasion to prolong its new-ness? What's your habit when it comes to new clothes and accessories (and china and wine and anything else you're excited about)? Cast your votes now, then let's hear your two cents in the comments!